Part of the reason that the Angels acted quickly in avoiding arbitration with left-hander Hector Santiago was due to trade interest they’ve received in the 28-year-old, reports MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez (links to Twitter). While there isn’t one specific trade scenario on which the Angels were focused, the team wanted to eliminate as many variables as possible in order to simplify discussions with interested parties. Gonzalez adds that there’s nothing imminent on Santiago at this time. Coming off 180 2/3 innings of 3.59 ERA, 8.1 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 with two years of club control remaining and a reasonable $5MM salary for the upcoming season, it’s easy to see why some clubs would be intrigued by Santiago. Then again, he also led the AL in home runs allowed (29) and recorded just a 29.9 percent ground-ball rate. Metrics like FIP (4.77), xFIP (5.00) and SIERA (4.50) are considerably less optimistic when viewing Santiago than traditional metrics like ERA, although it’s worth noting that his bottom-line results have always outpaced his peripheral stats in the Majors; Santiago has a 3.55 ERA in his career while the three aforementioned ERA estimators value his production in the 4.29 to 4.71 range.
Here’s more on the Halos…
- The Angels and ace Garrett Richards have been working to avoid arbitration, per Gonzalez, but the two sides still have “a ways to go,” he hears. The two sides will exchange arbitration numbers on Friday (assuming a deal doesn’t come together quickly before that date) and have another five or six weeks to negotiate in an effort to avoid a hearing.
- While there’s been plenty of speculation linking left-hander C.J. Wilson to the Rockies in various trade scenarios, such a trade almost certainly won’t happen. MLB.com’s Thomas Harding reports (via Twitter) that one of the eight teams to which Wilson can block a trade under the limited no-trade protection that comes in the final season of his five-year contract is the Rockies. Wilson could, of course, agree to waive that right, although it’s difficult to envision any pitcher — let alone one that is coming off surgery and entering a contract year — would green-light a trade to the hitters’ haven that is Coors Field.
- The Angels have interest in Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register tweets. While Fletcher noted as much yesterday, he adds today that the Halos do have some concerns about Blackmon’s splits. It’s not clear if Fletcher is referring to Blackmon’s platoon splits, home/road splits or both, but each dramatic split would be an understandable reason for pause. Blackmon has mashed at a .334/.386/.501 clip while playing at home over the course of his career but has mustered just a .241/.283/.370 slash away from Coors Field. And, while his platoon splits aren’t as pronounced, he has a .729 OPS against lefties compared to a .788 mark against righties in his career, and the discrepancy between those two numbers has grown in recent seasons. Fletcher also notes in his tweet that he is “99 percent sure” that the Angels won’t land Carlos Gonzalez in a trade due to the money remaining on Gonzalez’s deal. The 30-year-old Gonzalez is owed $37MM over the next two years and carries an $11.4MM average annual value (the number which counts against the luxury tax) on his seven-year, $80MM contract.
- Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times writes that the Halos are about $5MM away from the luxury tax barrier, and owner Arte Moreno has yet to indicate any sort of willingness to exceed that $189MM threshold. The Angels haven’t had “substantive” talks about the Rockies’ trio of potentially available outfielders, a source tells DiGiovanna, who implies that an impact upgrade over the platoon of Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry seems unlikely. “We talk about players who are still available in free agency or who might be available in trades,” said GM Billy Eppler of his talks with Moreno. “We have our conversations, and that’s it. We’re discussing all of our options all of the time.” Eppler declined comment on specific players but told DiGiovanna that he would “of course” be satisfied if this ends up being the group he takes to Spring Training: “There are a lot of pieces on this team that were there last year until Game 162 scratching, clawing and fighting to keep themselves in it and were on the doorstep of a playoff appearance.”
bkbkbk
Man Arte has turned out to be a lemon of an owner. He gets gifted the greatest player in a generation and then has his asset go from $180m to $1.5b and he is cheap about the luxury tax. He was also responsible for the awful noose contracts of Wells, Hamilton and Pujols. Heres to hoping we keep getting lucky INSPITE of our Montgomery Burns’esque owner.
Melvin McMurf
well said
Ken M.
He’s damned if he does… damned if he doesn’t.
Melvin McMurf
or praised for staying out of it.
jd396
“I’m glad our owner doesn’t go out throwing money at high-end players like its confetti!” — No fan base
mcsarcastic
Arte has actually made multiple mistakes that have now handicapped the Angels. I don’t think the “damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t” excuse works here.
JT19
Agreed that Arte has made big mistakes in signing fat contracts to Pujols and Hamilton. But obviously the solution to that is to trade for another guy with a big contract or sign a guy to a big contract right?
bartoloshomie
Quit ya whining. Spending close to luxury threshold is a dream fans of teams like the rays and royals, etc have. Youre lucky that youre a fan of a team that has an owner who will spend for the necessary players but, of course his funds arent unlimited.
ryanw-2
The Angels have been in contention almost every year for the past 20 years. Just because they’re not your dream fantasy team doesn’t make Arte a bad owner. 6 playoff appearances in the 12 years he’s owned the franchise. The Angels are also no longer the beneficiary of a weak AL West void of any real competition like in ’08-’09. They just had the best record in the Majors 2 years ago and only missed the playoffs by a game last season. Could be a lot worse. Could be the Royals or Pirates unable to spend anything on their young talent when they’re ready to hit free agency. If you ask me, the Angels’ biggest problem since 2010 has been their GM’s. Particularly Jerry Dipoto’s open reluctance to spending money on his bullpen. He finally gave in and got Grilli and Street, and look what happened. The Angels will contend in 2016, there’s just no lock in their division.
SoCalShu
I agree
angelsfansince74
Ryan W Krol I couldn’t agree more with you. Arte Moreno is the most over sucessfull on Angels history. And spare me the Disney winning the 02 World series being more successful. The Angels core players were there before that rat Disney owned the team. Yet most Angels fans can’t get over the name. And if they told the truth, the name is the only reason why they don’t like Arte Moreno.
mcsarcastic
How could the biggest problem be the GM if the GM isn’t allowed to function as a GM? Everyone knows Scioscia and Moreno have had a great effect on what GMs have tried to do in recent years.
And over the last few years Arte has failed to give the OK to make moves that would have led directly to more Angel success, both at recent trade deadlines and during the offseason. While Arte has spent money, he’s spent it unwisely and in the wrong places.
ryanw-2
It has been well publicized by now that Arte did give Dipoto free reign and that Dipoto took away the Angels’ philosophy of aggressive baseball and replaced it with a station to station approach that finally backfired in 2015. He took player development and ran it directly through the front office and made sure that he would run the team from his office and went over the heads of his coaching staff. Big no no. All the Angels have really needed for the most part over the last 5-6 years is a better bullpen but Dipoto refused to spend good money on his bullpen and wasted his time and money on guys like Ryan Madson, Jason Isringhausen, and Ernesto Frieri. It wasn’t until he finally gave in and acquired Grilli and Street that the Angels had what they needed to get back to the postseason. The big contracts are a poor excuse.
KingSall77
Let’s say something miraculous does happen with the Angels trading for Carlos Gonzales what pieces would they have to give up? Maybe dump C.J. Wilson’s contract, throw in Santiago, and Cron? Or is that not enough? I’m an Angels fan, I really want to see them get a LF. A platoon of Nava/Gentry is pathetic.
seamaholic 2
Rockies would have no interest in Santiago. One of the most extreme flyball guys in the game, HR problems … yeah, not so much for Coors Field. If the Angels are trading with the Rockies, it’s got to be Tropeano or Heaney.
bkbkbk
Yea Heaney is more valuable than literally any Rockie..
talkingfox21
I’d argue that Arenado is more valuable than Heaney…
bartoloshomie
No duh but after trading Tulo, trading Arenado would pretty much alienate whatever fanbase is still remaining. Translation: arenado isnt going anywhere at least for the next 3 years. Things might change in 2019 if the Rockies still suck and Nolan is still a superstar.
talkingfox21
I said nothing about Arenado’s status of being traded… I said Arenado was more valuable than Heaney, thus the statement “Heaney is more valuable than literally any Rockie” is false.
Ray Ray
You got him for HOWIE KENDRICK. He is not Pedro Martinez in his prime.
ryanw-2
The Dodgers trade Pedro for Delino DeShields…
JT19
If the plan is to dump Wilson’s contract (assuming Wilson waives his limited trade clause) then the Angels have to give up value back, not scraps. Santiago and Cron probably isn’t enough alone, let alone asking Colorado to take Wilson.
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Good luck with that! Thanks to Art and only Art! Crippled that team right now with those contracts!
ryanw-2
Yea real crippled when they just had the best record in the Majors two years ago and only missed the playoffs by a game last year. You should root for the Marlins for a season if you really need something to complain about.
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Ryan what would you call it then?? As of right now Art is not going over the luxury tax. Why? When your best chace is right now! You guys have the best player in baseball And a very good team! It’s about winning championships not have the best record or just making the playoff! You guys have underachieved big time the last few years period!
ryanw-2
None of that is relevant. You used the word ‘crippled’ to describe a team that had the best record in the majors two years ago and missed the playoffs by a game last season. Completely wrong observation, PERIOD!
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Hahaha Rayan what are you on?? nice response! It’s about championships not having the best record or just making the playoffs wake up dude!!
No Soup For Yu!
Santiago may be the second coming of Chris Young. Someone who always puts up good bottom line numbers despite giving up a large amount of homeruns. Still, he could do that for 10 years, and he’d still have an asterisk by his ERA, with everyone wondering if this would be the year the HRs caught up to him. He’ll never be very highly valued because od that.
slogar1
I heard last year the Giants really like Hector Santiago.
jules
We can only guess, nobody here really knows what’s going on, so lets just wait until April to find out where all the pieces fall…
Omarj
since Arte has owned the team. Had Dipoto been able to handle the team accordingly, without Arte interfering, I think the halos would have been better off. That being said, it was Arte who decided obtain Hamilton as well eat majority of his contract. I hold huge blame there. Halos missed out on Parra who signed a more than fair deal. Don’t miss out on blackmon. I wouldn’t risk the pieces they have now on Cargo. I still say bring Howie and Freese in for team friendly contracts. They’re good clubhouse guys. Trade for assets. Halos have a surpass of pitching. Wait it out if they have to. I agree Arte should go for it and pay the tax but for a short time. Yes I know it’s not my money, but Trout is awesome and Pujols will be declining soon. Halos just need a complete lineup, they don’t need all power.
Philliesfan4life
Blame Arte for all the big contracts, and also the trade for Vernon Wells
JT19
The blame should be entirely on Arte for Hamilton’s signing, but there was little chance the Angels would get rid of him without eating almost his entire contract. Nobody was going to take that contract unless, I would guess, at least 85% of it was eaten. Even if the Angels go ahead and get Blackmon and sign Kendrick and Freese, the Angels are hardly locks to make the playoffs let alone win a WS. Yeah their lineup might end up looking good, but their rotation is hardly inspiring. Yeah they might have a surplus of pitching, but its not like they have aces, you’re talking about Santiago, Skaggs and Wilson…three guys that most likely aren’t highly valued. The prospects aren’t good either so “trading for assets” isn’t going to be easy.
ryanw-2
The Angels would’ve been better off if the front office had paid more attention to their bullpen. There is absolutely no reason why the Angels can’t stay competitive even with those big contracts and Arte intervening. Poor excuse. Ever since K-Rod and Shield left, their bullpen has been in disarray. Dipoto made things worse by openly declaring he would not spend big money on his bullpen, and that same season he wasted his trade deadline budget on Zack Greinke instead of getting a reliever or two, and of course it was the bullpen that kept them out of the playoffs. Fast forward to 2014. And Dipoto finally spent money on his bullpen with Joe Smith, and then got Grilli and Street, and that proved to be the final piece that was missing for a few years. Those big contracts are no excuse. They will contend. But their division is more competitive, unlike 10 years ago. And their biggest problem right now is the Astros.
noahflesh
They should get Dickerson.
PhilliesFan012
Say Wilson waves his clause,
Rockies get – Wilson, Tropeano, Bedrosian and Cron
Angels – Cargo
If they want Blackmon take Bedrosian out of it because blackmons splits alone are enough to be a red flag at least in my eyes, I wouldn’t give someone a huge haul for Blackmon when he’s only hit like an allstar at coors, idk if I even think a trade is likely when the Orioles are knocking on Colorados door I think they have more to offer
skip 2
Wilson will never NEVER wave it!! In part of what they did to his buddy Hamilton and to stick it to Art!!
PhilliesFan012
I didn’t think he would, I still say they just find someone to take him, he was never worth the contract he got
SoCalShu
The last thing Wilson wants to do in a contract year is waive his no trade clause to pitch in the worst pitchers park in MLB…
Colorado won’t want Santiago IMO b/c his flyball rate…
The asking price for Cargo is too much for the length you get him and he doesn’t stay on the field even if they are “freak injuries”
Both Blackmon and Dickerson had too many red flags playing away from the hitter friendly Coors
As much as I hate the idea of the platoon (especially w/ it being Nava/Gentry) o think they are still an upgrade over the Joyce and Company that was run out there last season….not by much offensively but definitely defensively….
skip 2
I agree SoCal right now Wilson wishes he had a no trade clause to almost every team! No way on earth he’s going to Rookies especially in a contract year. He’s pitching in SoCal on one of the best offenises teams if he’s health and has a pretty good season he has another pretty good chance of get another decent contract.
bulldog
Instead of all this talk about trading Santiago or Wilson. Just go and SIGN Cespedes, were wasting Trout’s prime years and Arte doesn’t see this. Then he should just sell the team, if we don’t put a winning team on the field sooner then later when Trouts contract is up he will leave. It’s time to MAN UP Arte.
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Couldn’t agree more Mr. bulldog!
ryanw-2
Some of the fan reactions here are hilarious. It seems like after years of being handed a playoff spot in a weak AL West, Angels are freaking out because they have to deal with their team actually having to fight for a playoff spot. Welcome to real baseball Angels fans. It’s not Arte’s fault, it’s not Scioscia’s fault. It’s baseball. Deal with it. The Astros are coming. The Rangers were terrible in the first half and won the division. Even if the Angels sign one of those big FA’s, there is no lock in their division. It’s up for grabs. All we can do is get behind our team.
skip 2
Ryan weak AL West?? Are you serious? Do a little reach and look at the last 5 years or even 10 years by division and see where the AL West ranks then talk. Another thing are you Art’s son? Blame MLB lol try blaming Art first then your horrible front office! MONEY don’t win you championships fruit cake! It’s MLB falt for Wells trade? How’s Pujlos contract working out Gonna look even better moving forward Huh? What about Hamilton o that’s right you guys are paying him and he’s not even playing on your team wow! Last has Wilson lived up to that contract he signed????
ryanw-2
I don’t have to do the research I’ve followed the Angels daily for 27 years and check the standings daily. Maybe you should try actually reading before you reply. The AL West was a very weak division from 2005-2011. Mostly from 2007-2009. The Angels were basically handed their division titles in those three seasons. I think you’re the one who needs to do a little more research. And I didn’t say anything about it being MLB’s fault. I said its baseball. That’s how the game functions. The safe picks can easily falter and the most unlikely of teams win the World Series. If you call yourself a baseball fan you should know this universal fact. It doesn’t mater what the Angels do. They still have to battle the Astros.
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It sure hasn’t been weak! Read about baseball not just about the Angles! MLB or baseball how ever it functions don’t find excuses for giving stupid contracts out! And your right any unlikely team can when the World Series. And the Astros only been good the last 2 years!